Committee approves bill after carving out exemption for vape lounges

MONTPELIER - Vermont lawmakers are considering a proposal that would expand the state's smoke-free laws to encompass the use of electronic cigarettes.

The bill (H.171) would ban tobacco substitutes in the same places where tobacco smoking is prohibited, including workplaces, public spaces, hotels and cars where a young child is present.

The House Committee on Human Services carved out an exception on Thursday that would allow vape lounges to continue doing business in Vermont, then voted 10-1 to send the bill to the full House of Representatives.

"E-cigarette use among youth has increased. It's a public health concern," said Rep. Ann Pugh, D-South Burlington, chairwoman of the committee. "We don't want to normalize anything that resembles cigarette use."

E-cigarettes, also known as vapor products, heat liquid into a vapor that contains nicotine and can be inhaled.

The committee amassed a pile of testimony on e-cigarette restrictions, including statements of support from the Vermont Department of Health, former state health commissioner Dr. Jan Carney, and the American Lung Association.

The e-cigarette maker R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. tried unsuccessfully to convince lawmakers to restrict their product only at medical facilities and schools.

The one lawmaker to oppose the new restrictions Thursday morning was Rep. Paul Dame, R-Essex Junction, who said he wasn't convinced about the health risks of e-cigarettes in public places.

“There wasn’t enough evidence of harm to restrict people from using it," Dame said.

Some Vermont institutions have already restricted the use of e-cigarettes. The University of Vermont included e-cigarettes in its tobacco-free campus policy that took effect last fall, and the Burlington City Council banned the devices along with other tobacco products from Church Street Marketplace in 2014.

The House of Representatives is expected to consider the statewide restrictions on Tuesday.

This article was first published online Thursday, March 10, 2016. Contact April Burbank at 802-660-1863 or aburbank@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AprilBurbank